On July 21st, 2015, my worst nightmare came true. I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). I was absolutely devastated by the injury because I injured my knee in the last club soccer game before my junior year of high school soccer season would start. At my first appointment at TCO, my nightmare was confirmed with an MRI; I had ruptured my ACL through and through. On August 7th was when the real work began to come back from this injury.
Dr. Jason Barry successfully reconstructed my ACL and within a week I had my first physical therapy appointment with Bryan DeJarlais. I knew from just how frustrating and hard the first appointment was that I was in for one of my life's biggest challenges. Working along with Bryan was Courtney Scherr, PTA. Throughout my recovery, I feel she made the biggest impact. She challenged me physically and mentally every appointment, but also recognized that I was struggling with being out of the sport I love so much. She pushed me to do the best I could and ultimately helped me get cleared to return to sport at 6 months. When I concluded my regular physical therapy sessions, I decided I was not ready for contact yet and joined the Athletic Competition Enhancement (ACE) training. After the eight week program concluded, I was eight months post-op and felt ready to go. Using the strength and resiliency TCO taught me, I successfully returned to playing soccer at a high level, which I now play NCAA Division III soccer at the College of St. Scholastica, something I did not think was possible after my injury occurred.
Thanks to the great care I received at TCO and the bonds I made with the physical therapists, I have decided to pursue physical therapy as my future career and hope to one day soon help patients who are in a position that I was once in succeed.
